Frozen {In Your Calling}

The world has gone stark raving “Frozen” mad. I mean, the Disney Frozen. Seems where ever you go, children and adults alike are singing “Let It Go” and “Do You Want To Build A Snowman?” It’s really quite hilarious, when you think about it.

I’ve realized that many times when I’m discouraged, it’s because I’m frozen. I’ve sensed the same patterns in women I’ve counseled as well. Frozen, unable to move, at a complete stand still due to fear of failure and lack of belief. And since my mind is mush these days, the analogy that comes to mind instantly connects to the movie. It may not be deep, but hear me out. 🙂

Women everywhere are called to something. But fear renders them FROZEN.

You may be called to motherhood or maybe barrenness. Your calling might be to marriage or singleness or a redemptive separation. You might be called to the mission field, or your mission field might be right in your own home to an unsaved spouse or child. You may be called to love the most unlovable person around. Perhaps you are called to a life of travel that changes daily or perhaps to a mundane life with no changes at all. Sickness, poverty, financial struggles, emotional struggles…these are many of the places that we find ourselves on any given day.

I don’ t know what you are called to, and your calling is surely different than mine, but we all have the same “Caller.”

Whatever our situation today, our sovereign Lord placed us here, called us to it and knows all about it. Nothing comes to us that hasn’t been approved or ordained by his hand.

But we give way to fear and doubt our calling. We wonder how we got into this situation at all. We wonder where God is in all of this. So doubt freezes our ability to act out our calling.

THIS calling, we reason, is for that perfect woman, but not for me! (The woman who haunts and taunts you in your imagination. The one who has it all together.) We begin to believe that we can’t do this.

We women are famous for focusing on our flaws and failures. We telescope in on our insecurities and inadequacies and it’s all we can see.

We’re frozen by fear in the recesses of our minds. Thoughts like:

• Why me!?
• I’ve never had the training to do this!
• Surely, anyone can do this better than I could!
• If only they knew what kind of past I’ve come from.
• If only they knew how I’ve blown it in the past.
• I can’t do this! I’m ______________ .
• It’s not in my nature to _______________.
• She’s so much more_____________. I can never measure up to her.
• My personality is such that I can’t do _______________.
• I don’t have the natural ability, the education, the biblical knowledge, the _________ to get through this.

Doubting my ability can be good and bad. It’s good if it leads me to the conclusion that I’m dependent on grace for everything I accomplish through Christ’s enabling strength. It’s bad if it stops me from trying and taking hold of that grace that’s promised.

Guess what? If God brought it to you today, you are the one He wanted to handle this situation. It’s from His hand and He wants for you to see His grace and help and to depend on Him. You can’t do this alone and THAT dependence on Him is just what He wants you to learn.

You CAN do this with His help. You can obey, you can serve, you can step out of your comfort zone, you can love that unlovely person, you can serve that ungrateful person, you can live with misunderstanding, you can tolerate that whiney kid, you can clean that crazy-dirty-house-that-you-just-cleaned-10-seconds-ago, you can do it all today with His strength and grace.

If you are frozen in fear and you’ve just stopped trying, here are some verses that will hopefully begin a thaw, warm your heart, and give you courage to carry on.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thes. 5:24

“When I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor. 12:10

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Cor. 12:9

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

So the next time you hear “Let it Go” (OH, believe me, you’ll be hearing it!! I’ve taken to beating myself every time I hear it! Just kidding.) think of dropping your fear and excuses and claiming the promises that are yours in Christ.

What has God called you to do today, that forces you to claim His promises and press on for Him? What verses do you cling to for comfort and strength?